Crypto News Today: Privacy Coins Surge as DASH, ZEC Lead Market Rally

Key TakeawaysPrivacy coins surge with DASH up 66% to $138.32, leading the sector’s bullish momentumZcash (ZEC) climbs 21% to $469, pushing total privacy coin market cap above $25 billionAnalysts forecast further upside potential as privacy-focused assets outperform Bitcoin and Ethereum. Privacy Coins Enjoy Bullish MomentumPrivacy coins are currently defying a wider market downturn (-3.37%), with Dash (DASH) and Zcash (ZEC) leading a market-wide surge that has pushed the total market capitalization for privacy coins past $25 billion, according to CoinGecko. The rally comes amid renewed investor demand for transaction privacy and self-custody tools, setting privacy-focused assets apart from BTC (-2.72%) and other altcoins that are facing pressures from wider macroeconomic uncertainties. DASH and ZEC Lead Sector GainsDASH saw an explosive 66% rise in 24 hours, trading at $138.32, marking a three-year high. Trading volume for DASH recently hit $1.44 billion, its highest level since May 2021. ZEC followed DASH with a 21% gain, hitting $469, while other coins in the crypto privacy sector have also enjoyed significant gains: Horizen (ZEN) surged 29% to $22.047, PIVX jumped 62% to $0.3823, and Secret (SCRT) advanced 27% to $0.2091.Rising Demand for Financial PrivacyThis bullish momentum reflects a wider market shift toward financial privacy amid tightening regulatory oversight on mainstream cryptocurrencies. Analysts note that as global crypto compliance frameworks become stricter, investors are prioritizing anonymity and control over their digital assets.On-chain data indicates a surge in liquidity and institutional participation within the privacy sector. Zcash’s trading volume recently hit $1.35 billion, its strongest since September, while total sector returns have outperformed the broader market with a 79.7% gain over the last month, per Artemis. Analyst Outlook: Potential for Further UpsideMarket analysts remain optimistic. One noted that DASH could trade between $100-$140 in the near term, with potential expansion toward $250 if current trends persist.Zcash, meanwhile, continues to attract attention for its zk-SNARK technology and its Zashi wallet, which simplifies shielded transactions. Nansen’s senior analyst Jake Kennis described ZEC as an “encrypted Bitcoin,” emphasizing its fixed supply of 21 million coins and proof-of-work consensus model.